Give Me Your Thoughts: Worship Songs and Bad Theology

Some of the most well-known worship songs today come out of certain movements. Overseas (and now in New York) we have Hillsong; here in the States we have Bethel. Some of you reading go, “Who?” But, believe me, a generation of Christians is not going “Who?” Hillsong could well be the most globally-recognized church “brand” right now (other than Catholicism). They are zealous for the gospel and seeing people know Jesus—a constant source of encouragement and personal challenge to me. I am grateful for what God does through them.

However, at times (and because of the global-ness of the movement), we hear about weird things coming from them. Things such as pastors faking cancer, or perhaps leaders teaching youth stupid things about God—like googling your theology or that angels have farting contests (no, really, watch the video).

These types of things cause me to pause and reflect on whether or not to use songs coming from these movements in our services; but I am also aware that a song doesn’t define a person or a movement (some of you from a different generation may recognize that same thing about Keith Green). So, rather than just think about that alone, I’ve asked my worship pastor friends to give me their thoughts. I put this question to them: How do you approach song selection when songs may come from movements that have unorthodox (or even heretical) teaching? Here are their (brief) thoughts. (I asked for 100-200 words. Fike and Kevin didn’t obey.)

Every budding worship leader has artists or movements that they are drawn to, whether sonically, lyrically, or both. When one comes along that is just explosive or connects to a huge audience, we all have a tendency to just hop on the bandwagon. One thing I try to impress upon younger worship leaders that I train is to engage each song on its own terms. Don’t treat artists as if they can’t do wrong. Always engage the song theologically, lyrically, musically, and contextually.

If someone asks me about popular movements like Bethel, which has some killer songs, I invariably say something to the effect of, “I like a lot of their songs. Like many charismatic churches, they have some bad teaching, and I disagree with their theology. But there are some great, biblical songs by them that I think connect to our congregation and help them worship.”

The simple fact that there are songs in which the gospel still rises to the top even in contexts where theology and teaching are at best inadequate or careless and at worst erroneous and heretical is actually encouraging to me as much as it is problematic.

The reality is, much of the great, Godward music that is being sung in many churches today is coming out of churches whose theology and teaching don’t live up to their song lyrics. In fact, some are the very churches & teachings that, as an Elder, I would want to protect our people from.

So, should we use their music? While I don’t think there’s necessarily one right answer, I think there are a few guiding principles for us to consider:

We should be aware of the theological weaknesses of particular artists/churches, so that in choosing songs we are weeding out junk and aren’t bringing bad theology with us.

We should hold our own writing to the same standards of expression and theology that we do theirs.

We should do our best to not endorse those we would deem unsafe. This means:

We don’t bring in those artists for concerts and don’t encourage people going to their churches, concerts, etc.

When people ask about such an artist or ministry, we should be sure to warn them about the content of the teaching/theology they could encounter.

It may even be wise to avoid using music by local artists/churches, whose teachings our people might find more accessible.

Lastly, if your conscience tells you that doing a particular song isn’t good for you to do, don’t do it. Personally, I think if any of the churches are flatly denying primary points of orthodoxy—trinity, deity of Jesus, substitutionary atonement—I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing their songs.

In all, this conversation makes me thankful for churches that are preaching a God-centered, Jesus-exalting gospel, while also encouraging and cultivating artists who actually write good music with lyrics which speak rightly about Jesus.

Chris Tomlin is every bit as capable of writing a heretical song as Brian Johnson is, or for that matter, Richie Fike.

For my part, I submitted all of my songs for the Fike records to my elder board at Vanguard. I wanted them to pore through the lyrics and approve of the content, continuity and culture of the songs, because I wanted our songs to be reflective of who we are, both as a church and as a member of the ‘big C’ church.

Paul Baloche got into some controversy a few years ago with his song, “Above All,” because the lyric rubbed against ‘high sovereignty’ theology.

But, his pastor at his church had no problem with its implications. The image of Jesus thinking of the individuals His death would affect didn’t fly in the face of his theology. So, that song was very useful to his church, and to the Church at large.

Each church’s worship culture has a gatekeeper—the person that either writes or selects the songs that his church will sing to its Savior. Some gatekeepers might throw the baby out with the bathwater—disregarding all music from every dysfunctional expression of faith.

Reality Check: If a song has to come out of an infallible environment to be useful to the Bride of Christ, we’d have no songs.

I believe, as our church’s gatekeeper, I can listen/analyze a song ‘on an island’ and decipher its content and theological implications and decide whether it is useful/helpful/appropriate for the body I’m responsible to serve.

Calvin was known as a murderer who lacked mercy and grace. Luther believed that Jewish homes and synagogues should be destroyed. Spurgeon was a huge fan of whiskey and cigars (ok maybe not a bad thing). You get the point. Even the wisest of wise make stupid decisions/comments, yet their contributions to the faith aren’t diminished. Truth is, every teaching has a bit of heresy weaved into it because of our humanity. We don’t have a full understanding of who God is, nor will we have it until we’re standing face to face with Him in heaven.

With that said, I have to believe that if I’ve been called to serve as a worship pastor, then I’ve also been equipped by the Holy Spirit to discern the lyrical content of a song. Everything has to pass through three filters: my community’s heart, mission and doctrinal stance. If a song lines up with all three of these things and I sense the Holy Spirit is on board with it, I’ll use the song. Unless the writer/movement is directly contradicting doctrine, not theology (there’s a difference), he or she will have little to do with my decision.

I would say much of the worship music it’s in our churches today is good but there are also some I don’t know how many but tho catering only to the young what I mean by that is between the ages of 18 and 35 there’s no variety traditional music and they try to modernize every traditional hymn does every hymn have to be a rock song? The older hymns had true substance I’m not satisfied with the way every song has to be turned into a mosh pit of emotional worship with no reverence to God and respect for all age group. When more than half probably of so-called worship leaders in churches don’t have a bachelor’s in music or a masters and their limited education and experience comes out like you get what you pay for. shallow worship. It’s become too casual. Most of the songs are built the same way quite at the beginning and then a collection of distorted sounds that you can’t distinguish the one instrument to another and it sounds basically just like good old rock and roll the louder the better distortion, distortion, distortion! they try to whip you up into an emtional high that’s not the Holy Spirit. The repertoire is minimal and the preparation is minimal I could say more but it would just get worse as I said before. Not All churches are doing this but a worship leader should accommodate his own genre of music and lay it aside for the good of all ages and that’s not the biblical definition of Christian love it’s self-serving the love that the Bible speaks of it several areas is gentle kind and it difers to others and doesn’t want its own way is anybody listening I’m not listening to the music anymore because when I’m watching what I said it’s all about them in front. The lights are are on Them they are more concerned about make sure they’re being heard and seen and not the Lord. Loudness is not always spiritual THANK YOU

I love this article!! I have thoughts to share with you that require a solid 8-hr sleep so ill have to get back to you tomorrow! I just didn’t want more time to go by without you knowing that this is a wonderful discussion topic!!

I know he is anathema these days, but he’s right to a point (obviously, I disagree with him about loads of other things he has said). I don’t believe that apart from the scriptures there is enough truth revealed in the world for us to understand the gospel. Bell is right to say that there is truth to be found out there (general revelation), and that truth points to Jesus, who has been revealed to us through His Word (specific revelation). So if that is what Bell is getting at, fine. If he is saying Jesus can be found anywhere truth is, and that all of those general truths can teach us about enough about Jesus to be saved apart from the what has been revealed in the Bible, then no.

As it relates to the discussion at hand, obviously, I see the similarities between this idea and what a lot of us said about there being solid truth in these songs despite the source. I think it is related to the idea, but not the same.

Also related but no the same I think are the Apostle Paul’s words, (a little safer to quote than Bell):

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

I wanted to quote that in my response to the question, but I ran out of words 🙂 Since Hans didn’t put a limit on comments…

This gets at the idea a little closer to me than Bell does, but I do think they’re all related. The common thread is a source that 100% trustworthy. A difference that I perceive with Bell’s quote is that a source is likely only giving a *partial* truth about God or the gospel, while what Paul is dealing with is still accurately reflecting the gospel. I would like to think that the songs that I choose are still accurate reflections of the gospel 🙂

Dad—My tendency is more of a baby and bathwater thing. Part of that is because I’m too rigid. I’d prefer that both the song and the stream of the faith from which it comes be doctrinally pure. However, in doing so, I get inwardly focused and overlook good songs from other streams. Of the four guys, I’m probably closer to Kevin; but I say that as a hypocrite.